Dick Cheney: Former US Vice President and Key Figure in the 'War on Terror', Dies at 84

Dick Cheney, who has died at the age of 84, served in prominent roles in American public life. His career included terms as President Gerald Ford's White House Chief of Staff, a decade in the House of Representatives, and Secretary of Defense under President George H. W. Bush during the first Gulf War and the US invasion of Panama. In 2001, Cheney became Vice President under President George W. Bush, where he played a central role in the 'War on Terror' following the 9/11 attacks and advocated for the invasion of Iraq. In his later years, he became a critic of the Republican party under President Donald Trump, stating, "In our nation's 248-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic."

Early Life and Education

Richard Bruce Cheney was born on January 30, 1941, in Lincoln, Nebraska. His father worked for the US Department of Agriculture, and his mother was a successful softball player in the 1930s. At age 13, his family relocated to Casper, Wyoming. In 1959, Cheney enrolled at Yale on a scholarship but did not graduate. He later earned a Master's degree in political science from the University of Wyoming. In his early 20s, Cheney was twice convicted of driving under the influence. Reflecting on these incidents, he stated, "I was headed down a bad road if I continued on that course."

In 1959, Cheney obtained a series of deferments to avoid military service, first to complete his college course and later due to his wife Lynne's pregnancy. He stated, "I don't regret the decisions I made. I complied fully with all the requirements of the statutes, registered with the draft when I turned 18. Had I been drafted, I would have been happy to serve." This issue did not become a significant campaign point during his Vice Presidential run, even when he questioned Senator John Kerry's ability to serve as commander in chief.

Entry into Politics

Cheney began working in Washington D.C. in 1968 for William Steiger, a Republican representative from Wisconsin. He later worked with Donald Rumsfeld, first at the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) under President Richard Nixon, and then in the Ford White House. When Gerald Ford appointed Rumsfeld as his Defense Secretary in 1975, Cheney became White House Chief of Staff at the age of 34. Brent Scowcroft, Ford's national security adviser, described Cheney's role: "He made the system run. Everybody had access to the president, but it was smooth, orderly. He didn't try to be a deputy president."

Congressional Career

After Ford's presidential loss in 1976, Cheney returned to Wyoming and successfully ran for a seat in the House of Representatives. During his campaign, while smoking three packs of cigarettes a day, he experienced the first of several heart attacks. His wife, Lynne, campaigned on his behalf during his recovery, and he won with 59% of the vote.

During his decade in the House, Cheney was known as a conservative who supported Ronald Reagan's increases in defense spending during the Cold War. He opposed the release of Nelson Mandela from jail and was one of 21 congressmen to vote against the prohibition of armor-piercing bullets.

Secretary of Defense

In early 1989, President George H. W. Bush appointed Cheney as Defense Secretary after his initial nominee, Senator John Tower, withdrew amidst allegations of heavy drinking and womanizing. The Senate approved Cheney's appointment without opposition.

His tenure as Defense Secretary was marked by significant global events, including the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the Soviet Union. Although known for his hawkish views, he oversaw a post-Cold War reduction in the military budget, with the number of servicemen and women decreasing from 2.2 million to 1.8 million.

His time at the Pentagon is notably remembered for the 1991 Gulf War. Cheney advocated for military force against Saddam Hussein following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. He secured permission from Saudi Arabia's King Fahd for the deployment of over 400,000 US troops in preparation for Operation Desert Storm. Cheney traveled to Riyadh to plan the operation with military generals. After a five-week air campaign, coalition forces initiated a ground war, leading to the swift defeat of Iraq's army within 100 hours. While Generals Colin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf received public recognition, Cheney played a significant role in the success of Desert Storm.

CEO of Halliburton and Vice Presidential Selection

After Bill Clinton's presidential election victory in 1992, Cheney left Washington and became CEO of Halliburton, a large multinational company supplying equipment to the oil industry. He held this position until 2000, when George W. Bush asked him to chair the search for a vice-presidential candidate. After reviewing Cheney's recommendations, Bush ultimately asked Cheney to join him on the ticket.

Vice Presidency (2001-2009)

Following the September 11, 2001, attacks, Cheney was relocated to an "undisclosed location" for several weeks to ensure continuity of government in case of an attack on President Bush. He was a leading advocate for US military action in Afghanistan and Iraq. He asserted that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction and viewed the Iraqi invasion as unfinished business from the first Gulf War. Cheney was a proponent of enhanced interrogation techniques, including waterboarding, for captured terrorist suspects.

Cheney maintained offices in both the Capitol building and near the commander-in-chief, allowing him to engage directly with the legislative process. He played an influential role in shaping Bush's conservative tax policies and in rolling back environmental protections.

His access to President Bush enabled him to bypass other senior administration members. In 2001, he persuaded Bush to sign an order that stripped captured foreign terrorist suspects of certain legal rights. Secretary of State Colin Powell reportedly learned of this decision via news reports. In October 2002 and July 2007, Cheney served as acting president for a few hours while President Bush underwent medical procedures, as per the 25th Amendment.

During the 2004 re-election campaign, despite some pressure within Republican circles to replace him, President Bush retained Cheney as his running mate. Cheney played a central role in their victory against John Kerry and John Edwards.

During the 2004 campaign, Cheney expressed a stance that diverged from typical conservative positions on gay marriage. He opposed a constitutional ban on gay marriage, which President Bush supported, because his daughter Mary is a lesbian. Cheney stated that while the final decision should rest with individual states, he personally favored marriage equality, asserting, "Freedom means freedom for everyone."

Cheney faced scrutiny when reports emerged that Halliburton had won the contract to restore Iraq's oil industry, and that he was due to receive $500,000 in deferred compensation from the company.

In 2005, his former chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, was indicted on charges related to the leaking of a CIA agent's identity to the press.

In 2006, Cheney accidentally shot hunting companion Harry Whittington, 78, leaving him with 30 pellets in his body and leading to a minor heart attack. Cheney later described the incident as "one of the worst days of my life."

Cheney also expressed concern that terrorists might attempt to assassinate him by sending an electronic signal to his pacemaker, a scenario he had seen depicted in the TV series Homeland. He later wrote, "I was aware of the danger that existed... I knew from the experience we had and the necessity for adjusting my own device that it was an accurate portrayal of what was possible." His pacemaker was subsequently replaced with one lacking Wi-Fi connectivity.

Later Years

In 2015, Cheney, along with his daughter Liz Cheney, became a critic of President Donald Trump.